Tall fescue has the ability to not only survive, but to thrive in our tough conditions. Fescues have a much deeper root system than ryegrass and also possess heat tolerance properties. All fescue varieties need to be managed carefully in order to get the balance right between maximum stock production and plant persistence. Recent breeding of new continental varieties has led to improved stock acceptance.
Mediterranean fescues – can be a valuable winter forage species, but they need to be managed! These types of fescues, if allowed will take over a pasture, especially on heavy soils, making it virtually impossible for any other pasture species to co-exist with them. The trend these days is to keep sowing rates relatively low so there can be a measure of grazing control. Needs to be very heavily stocked in spring to keep the species under control!
| Variety | Sowing Rate | Leaf Type | Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|
| CONTINENTAL Summer Active | |||
| Hummer MaxP | 2 - 10 | Soft | Grows well in all seasons, very persistent and good insect resistance due to MaxP endophyte. |
| Finesse Q | 2 - 10 | Soft | High quality, high year round yields, densely tillered, persistent. |
| Nouga | 2 - 10 | Very Soft | The number one newly bred soft leaf fescue on the market. Highly suited to grazing and cutting. |
| MEDITERRANEAN Winter Active/Summer Dormant | |||
| Medallion | 2 - 8 | Medium/Fine | Breakthrough in palatability for mediterranean types, lower NDF and higher ME makes it a productive plant that can persist very well. |
| Prosper | 2 - 8 | Medium/Fine | Erect growing variety, suited to most soil types. Is a true summer dormant type which maximizes persistence. |
| Flecha | 2 - 8 | Medium/Fine | Reliable drought tolerance, suited to 450mm+ rainfall area. Very high winter/spring production. |
